On Sundays our Sergeant typically lets out a couple of people who are due to get out within a few days. Last Sunday was no different, and he decided to let out about 3 people. They were all getting out on Monday or Tuesday anyway, so it wasn’t a big deal.

I had gotten two of the releases out the door, when the booking officer let me know he was ready for the last guy. I went to get him from the maximum/minimum security area. He was housed on the minimum level, but the maximum level inmates were on their out time. We house both security levels in the same area, but different cells. Since the inmates all have different out times, the two security levels aren’t able to intermix.

He was excited, as anyone would be, to get out of jail early. I had him get his things and started walking him out of his area when he was approached by two max-security inmates. They both gave him letters to mail out after he was released.

While mailing letters is allowed, circumventing our mail system isn’t. Inmates aren’t allowed to seal thier envelopes. Our clerks go through the outgoing mail to make sure they aren’t sending out codes, or secure information, or anything that would be considered a suicide note. Both of the letters were sealed, and the inmates were obviously trying to get around this security check. On the other hand however, the inmates did give the envelopes to the inmate, and they were now his. Sticky legal situation alert!! I decided to let the sergeant know about it, since he gets paid the “big bucks” to make those decisions.

The sarge came to the booking area and asked the inmate to hand over the letters, which he did, willingly.

The sergeant opened the letters and saw that one of them was particularly interesting. It was supposed to go to someone who was slated to testify in an upcoming trial. The letter was telling the person that they would get paid if they testified a certain way, or else. The letter was specific enough to state where the inmate was supposedly at, and when , and what he was supposedly doing. It was not looking good for the inmate. He was trying to pay someone to lie on the witness stand, and also intimidating a witness. Both of which are felonies.

The sergeant brought the inmate out to talk to him, and let him know that the letter was intercepted and would be forwarded to the prosecutor. You could almost see the color go out of his face. On one hand, it was sort of funny. Why in the world would you give someone a letter that had such damning evidence, if there was any chance of getting found out? On the other hand, it was sad, because the inmate was now probably looking at possible extra charges and having any deals on the table rescinded. Instead of being able to take advantage of a deal for only 70 months, he could get found guilty at trial and get sent to prison for a maximum of 266 months. Quite a difference; 5 years versus 22 years.

Anyway, the inmate asked the sergeant, “So, I’m pretty much Fu#@ed?”

Sergeant: “Well…. Yeah, probably.”

I would agree. This guy was not thinking clearly. Of course, his charges of Robbery in the first degree and Assault in the second degree would more than likely be considered “Fu#@ed” as well, but this letter incident adds a whole new level of … well, you know… to the whole situation.

Suffice to say that he was brooding the rest of the day. I would imagine that I would be a bit broodish (or is it broodie?) myself, if I were in his situation. Who can blame him?